Growing conditions:
FINALLY! 2012 HAD RELATIVELY NORMAL CONDITIONS, MINIMAL APRIL FROST, WARM TO HOT DAYS/COOL NIGHTS IN JULY AND AUGUST THEN A MILD INDIAN SUMMER IN LATE SEPT/EARLY OCT. EARLY INDICATIONS ARE THAT 2012 IS THE BEST VINTAGE SINCE 2007 AND POSSIBLY SINCE THE FAMOUS 1997 VINTAGE.

Winemaking:
After hand harvesting, the grapes were crushed then inoculated 24 hours later with D-80 yeast and spent an average of 15 days on the skins prior pressing. Different varietal lots were barrel aged separately for 16 months prior to selecting the final blend. Total barrel aging was 25 months in French and Hungarian oak barrels.

Tasting notes:
Intense, complicated, and rich. Aromatics emanating from the multi-varietal blending include hints of ripe cherries, chocolate, and violet are intertwined with spicy oak. Flavors are deep and rich with layers of pleasantly assertive tannins, rich fruit and toasty oak. The finish is lush with piquant acidity ensuring excellent aging potential.

Cellaring:
While enjoyable currently, this multidimensional Bordeaux blend will continue to improve with proper cellaring for another 7-10 years in the bottle with a plateau of best drinkability from 2018-2022.

Food selection:
This supple, complex wine will enhance elegant beef selections such as filet or prime rib as well as more
exotic game selections.